Closure for containers



May 15, 1934. B, E. BOGEAUS CLOSURE FOR conmmans Filed Feb 8. 1932 jgiwmINVENTOR.

Patented I May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,958,414 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERSBen E. Bogeaus, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, toAmerican-Tube and Cap Corporation, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation ofDelaware Application February '8, 1932, Serial No. 591,485 11 Claims.-(01. 221 60) This invention relates to closures for containers, beingparticularly directed to a novel form of closure wherein the closureforms an integral part of the container, and wherein displacement of theclosure, or a portion thereof. in one direction, permits the dischargeof material from the con tainer and a reversal of directionaldisplacement of the closure or part thereof, originally displaced,causes the closing or sealing of the container.

Broadly, it is an object of this invention to provide for an improvementin structural formation of a closure element of the type shown anddescribed in Letters Patent to Walther Kalb, 1,601,- 396, patentedSeptember 28th, 1926, the particular improvement involved being theprovision of structural detail wherein the movable part of the closureis guided to cause a uni-directional and non-tilting displacementthereof as it is actuated in its respective directional movement, topermit -the opening or closing of the same with respect to the containeron which it is applied.

Further, it is a specific object of this invention to provide for thestructural formation of the inner head of the closure element of thetype specified in the Kalb patent above mentioned, with respect to theouter displaceable cap associated with said head, wherein no materialfrom the container may remain between the fixed head and movable cap ofthe closure, thus to provide for the retention of the material withinthe container proper, ready for discharge only through the closure whenthe movable cap thereof is actuated.

Further, it is an object of this invention to 3 eliminate the formationof an area between the fixed and movable portions of the closure, in

which the material in the container may be deposited when the closureelement is in sealed or closed position.

This form of closure, as can be readily observed from the state of theart, is applicable particularly to semi-fluid materials of the nature oftooth pastes, shaving creams, cosmetic creams, varnishes, paintsglues,or other materials of a like nature, commonly carried in collapsibletubes,

and may be further applied with liquids, which may be carried in glass,metallic or any other type of containers, the closure, as may be seenfrom the drawing, being capable of either forming an integral part ofthe container or being attachable to a container at-the head or neckportion thereof.

These and other advantages, capabilities and features of the inventionwill appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specificembeing adapted to be disposed in said channel 14 bodiment thereofillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a frontview, partly in section, of the closure device in closed, position,applied in one form as in association with a collapsible tube.

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the movable andfixed heads of the closure.

Figure 3 is a front'elevation, partly in section, of the closure in openposition.

Figure 4 is a plan view, in section, taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the reference characters in the drawing, numeral 10represents a container herein shown as a collapsible tube, although forthe purpose of this invention any form of container of any of thevarious types of material known may be applied. In the embodiment of theinvention shown in the drawing, the body of the container 10 merges intoan inclined neck portion 11, at the extremity of which there may beattached to or formed integral therewith, the fixed head A of theclosure.

The fixed head A has a cylindrical body portion 12, the upper extremityof which is bent inwardly to form a shoulder 13, which forms one of theboundary surfaces for the annular peripheral channel 14, the otherboundary for such channel being the annular projecting flange 15, therethe inner peripheral surface of the annular snap spring 16 of the leaftype. Above the projecting fiange 15 there is formed a reducedcylindrical nipple portion 17, and above such nipple portion is formed asection 18 in the form of a frustum of a cone, the upper portion ofwhich has formed thereon a top 19.

As shown in Figure 1, the fixed head has a hollow interior and at theportion of the same forming the frustum of a cone there are provided aseries of discharge apertures 20 disposed peripherally around suchsurface. The top 19 has formed thereon an annular channel 21 whichserves as a seat for the inwardly projecting peripheral edge 22 of themovable cap B of the closure.

The movable cap B has a surface 23 in the shape of a frustum of a conewhich is adapted to rest against the frusto-conical surface 18 of thehead, and is adapted to cover and seal the apertures 20 therein when thedevice is in closed 105 position (see Figure 1). Adjacent and below thefrusto-conical surface 23 of the cap is formed a cylindrical bodyportion 24 extending substantially parallel with respect to thecylindrical body portion 1'? en the fixed head, the said body por- 110tion 24 being adapted to contact with and be guided by the body portion17 when and as the movable cap "B" is reciprocated to operate theclosure. The cap structure below the cylindrical body portion 24 extendsto form a second conical surface 25; the extremity 26 of the cap belowsuch conical surface being adapted to be bent inwardly to form areceptacle for the outer peripheral surface of the annular spring 16.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the portion of theconical surface 25 opposite and adjacent the bent-in edges 26 arepressed together so as to tightly fix the outer peripheral surface ofthe annular spring with respect to the cap; the innerperipheral surfaceof the annular spring being adapted to be more or less rigidly fixedwithin the channel 14 formed between portions 13 and 15 which serve toretain the inner peripheral surface of the annular spring 16 for thepurpose specified.

In operation, to open the closure element for discharge of material fromthe container 10, the cap is grasped at the surface 26 and drawnupwardly from the position in Figure into the position in Figure 3. Asthe cap is drawn upwardly, the annular spring 16is displaced anddeformed by the pressure applied thereto at its outer periphery, whileits inner peripheral edge is restrained within channel 14 of the head"A, until it reaches the median line position between that shown inFigures 1 and 3, after which the spring of itself tends to becomeundeformed and be further displaced to attain the upwardly inclinedposition shown in Figure 3.

During such displacement of the spring the cap is bodily moved upwardlywith the inner surface of the cylindrical .body portion 24 of the capcontacting with and being guided in its slid= ing movement along theexterior surface of the cylindrical body portion 17 of the head, thuscausing the cap to be displaced in a vertical plane without tilting. Atthe same time, the frustoconical surface 23 of the cap is displacedabove the frusto-conical surface 18 of the head to provide an area-way Cbetween the respective frusto-conical surfaces of the head and cap whilefreeing or unblocking the apertures 20 in the frusto-conical surface ofthe head to permit material that may be urged upwardly in the interiorlyhollowed portion of the head to pass directly into such area-way "0.Further, the edge 22 at the extremity of the frusto-conical surface 23of the cap is displaced upwardly and above from its seat 21 on the .top19 of the head A,'to provide for a discharge outlet 27 above thearea-way D formed between the cap B and the top 19 of the head A.

Material from the body of the container which may be squeezed or poured,as the case may be, then passes into the interior of the hollowedportion of the head A through the apertures 20 in the head angularlyinto the area-way C and then in a further angular direction to areawayD, from whence it passes through the discharge outlet 27 for use.

It should be noted that not only do the cylindrical surfaces 24 and 1'7respectivelyof the cap and head serve to guide the cap in averticalmovement with respect to the head and to eliminate tilting ofthe cap with respect tothe head, but the constant contact of a portionof the inner surface of the cylindrical body portion 24 of the cap andthe outer surface of the nipple portion 17 of the head, prevents thepassage of any of the material being urged through the dischargeopenings 20 of the head into the area-way it! formed between the uppersurface of the snap device 16 and the inner surface of the conicalportion 25 of the cap.

To return the cap "B? to its original closed position with respect'to'the head A, all that is necessary is to press downwardly on the surface25 of the cap or any other surface thereof, such as the body portion 24or the frusto-conical surface 23 thereof, whereupon the spring 16 willbe urged to its median line position, and upon attaining such position,-exert a pressure due to its release from the deformation caused theretoand proceed to assume the position of downward inclination shown inFigure 1, at which time the edge 22 of the cap fits into its seat 21 onthe head adjacent the top 19 thereof, and the frusto-c'oni-- cal surface23 surrounds, covers and seals the apertures 20 formed in thefrusto-conical surface 18 of the head. v

Although the head has been formed integral with the container, which ishere shown as of the collapsible type, it is within the province of thisinvention to provide for a separable head with respect to the bodyportion; further, although the elements involved in the head and capstructure have been shown in specific structural conformations, it iswithin the province of this in,- vention to vary the size, the shape andthe form of the same,-so long as the elements thereof cooperate toprovide a proper seal for the material passing through the outletsthereof, and at the same time, to provide for a non-tilting guidedreciprocal displacement of the cap with respect to the head.

It is obvious .that various changes and modifications may be made tothe-details of construction without departing from the general spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims:

I claim:

1. In a closure of the type described, the combination with a head and acap, of a snap device interconnecting said head and cap and actuable tocause displacement of said cap with respect to said head, said snapdevice operating to yieldingly retain said cap in its open position, adischarge outlet in said cap, discharge open ings in said head, andrelatively movable surfaces on the respective head and cap arranged forcontact with each other below said discharge openings.

2. In a closure of the type described, the combination with a head and acap, of a snap device interconnecting said head and cap and actuable tocause displacement of said cap with respect to said head, a dischargeoutlet in said cap, and discharge openings in said head, cooperatingsealing surfaces on said head and said cap having sealing contact witheach other adjacent the respective outlet and openings of said cap andhead, to seal the same when the cap is in closed position, andcooperating substantially cylindrical guide surfaces on said head andsaid cap having sliding contact with each other below said dischargeopenings, to guide the cap in its movement with respect to the head, andto permit only a reciprocation in a vertical plane, of said cap withrespect to said head.

3. In a closure of the type described, in combination with a fixed headhaving discharge openings therein, a movable cap having a dischargeoutlet, means comprising a snap device interconnecting said cap and headand adapted to provide, upon displacement, for the reciprocation of headfor seating the cap at its discharge outlet to seal the cap with respectto said head, and relatively movable cooperating sealing surfaces onsaid head and said cap having sealing contact with each other below thedischarge openings of said head.

. 4. In a closure of the type described, in combination with a fixedhead having discharge openings therein, a movable cap having a dischargeoutlet, means comprising a snap device interconnecting said cap and headand adapted to provide, upon displacement, for the reciprocation of saidcap with respect to said head, means on said head for seating the cap atits discharge outlet to seal the cap with respect to said head, seatingsurfaces on said cap and said head adapted, in the closed position ofthe cap, to have seating contact with each other directly over saiddischarge openings to seal the latter, and cooperating sliding guidesurfaces on said head and said cap extending substantially parallel tothe axis of said head'and cap, thereby to insure uni-directionalreciprocation of said cap with respect to said head, upon actuation ofsaid snap device.

5. In a closure of the type described, in combination with a fixed headhaving discharge openings therein, a movable cap having a dischargeoutlet, means comprising a snap device interconnecting said cap and headand adapted to provide, upon displacement, for the reciprocation of saidcap with respect to said head, means on said head for seating the cap atits discharge outlet to seal the cap with respect to said head, thewalls of the cap being disposed so as to seal the discharge openings ofsaid head, a cylindrical guide surface .on said head below saiddischarge openings, and a cooperating cylindrical guide surface on saidcap having sliding contact with said first mentioned guide surface,thereby to cause uni-directional reciprocation of said cap with respectto said head, upon actuation of said snap device, said last-named guidesurfaces on said cap and head being adapted to restrict the displacementof material passing through said discharge openings in said head to adirectional displacement towards and through the discharge opening onsaid cap when the same is unseated.

6. A closure of the class described, comprising in combination a fixedhead and a movable cap therefor, a snap device interconnecting said capand head and operable to cause displacement of said cap outwardly withrespect to said head, and cooperating, relatively slidable guidesurfaces on the lower portions of said head and cap for controlling thedirectional displacement of said cap with respect to said head.

'7. A closure of the class described, comprising in combination a fixedhead and a movable cap therefor, a snap device interconnecting said capand head and operable to cause displacement of said cap with respect tosaid head, relatively slidable guide means on said cap and said head forcontrolling the directional displacement of said cap with respect tosaid head, discharge apertures in said head and a discharge outlet insaid cap,

means on said cap for sealing the apertures of said head, and a seat onsaid head for sealing the discharge outlet of said cap.

8. A closure of the class described, comprising in combination a fixedhead and a movable cap therefor, discharge openings in said head, adischarge outlet in said cap, said cap comprising seating means adaptedto seat on said head to prevent discharge through said openings andthrough said outlet, said head comprising a cylindrical guide surfaceformed thereon below said discharge openings, said cap comprising acylindrical guide surface adapted to have sliding hearing contact withsaid first named guide surface, a conical skirt on the lower portion ofsaid cap, and a spring-buckling disc operatively connected between saidskirt and said head, the contact between the cylindrical bearing surfaceof said head and the cylindrical bearing surface of said cap forming inall positions of the cap a seal between said discharge openings in thehead and the lower conical skirt of the cap, thereby prevehting escapeof discharged material to the recess between said lower conical skirtand said springbuckling disc.

9. A container comprising a body provided with a discharge opening, anexternal cap for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said bodyinto open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manualgrasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, anelastic snap device connecting said body with said cap and operating tothrow the latter either to the discharge position or to the closedposition as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutralposition, and cooperating cylindrical guide surfaces on said body and onsaid cap for guiding the motion of said cap.

10. A container comprising a body provided with a discharge opening, anexternal cap for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said bodyinto open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manualgrasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, anelastic snap device connecting said body with said cap and operating tothrow the latter either to the discharge position or to the closedposition as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutralposition, a cylindrical guide surface on said body below said dischargeopening, and a cylindrical guide surface formed within said cap andadapted to have sliding, guided engagement with said firstnamed guidesurface during the motion of said cap.

11. A container comprising a body provided with a discharge opening, anexternal cap for said discharge opening movable lengthwise of said bodyinto open or closed position, said cap being adapted for direct manualgrasping to initiate the movement thereof in either direction, anelastic snap device connecting said body with said'cap and operating tothrow the latter either to the discharge position or to the closedposition as soon as the cap passes beyond its median or neutralposition, and an internal surface in said cap having contact with saidbody below ,said discharge opening.

BEN E. BOGEAUS.

